NEWS
Off Season Elections: GEJ Calls On National Assembly To Overrule
Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan is of the opinion that off-season elections should be put to an end in Nigeria.
He was fielding questions from reporters after exercising his franchise on Saturday in Otueke at the off season gubernatorial elections for Bayelsa.
His take is that with continuous judicial intervention and scattered elections, a time might come when Nigeria’s presidential election might also become off season.
Jonathan and his wife, Patience, cast their votes in the Bayelsa State governorship election at Ward 13 Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area.
In his opinion, off season elections are awkward for which he urged the National Assembly to pull the plugs and end the practice in Nigeria.
He said, “Basically this is an off-season election.
“I get worried about the issue of off-season elections, and I will use this unique opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block off-season elections.
“It is very odd, it’s not a global best practice. A country can elect its people at different times, like the American election and some countries. They may not elect everybody at the same time but the only time they go on to conduct elections, they elect everybody that is supposed to be elected.
“If we continue with this trend of off-season elections based on the interpretation of our law by a judicial officer, it will come to a time when the presidential election in Nigeria may be conducted off-season.
“Probably, that is time that the media and others will realise it. Look at the American (US) system, everybody knows when American elections will be conducted. That’s the standard in other countries.
“And when I say presidential election in Nigeria may be off-season one day, some may say ‘why, how?’. It almost happened in 2007 when I contested as running mate to the late President Yar’Adua.
“In that election, seven Justices presided over the case, three of them through their judgement held that the election be annulled, and four of them sustained it.
“If one of them had crossed over, by now, the Nigerian presidential election would have been off-season.”
NEWS
‘Ready to Kick, Ready to Work’ — Tinubu Addresses Health Rumours
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that he is healthy, sound and ready to resume work after returning to Nigeria from his four-week working vacation in Europe.
Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday shortly after arriving in Lagos from Paris, France, where he spent the final part of his vacation.
SEE MORE: Tinubu Departs Paris for Lagos, Set for Abiola Tribute
Speaking briefly after his arrival, the President said he enjoyed the break before assuring Nigerians of his readiness to return to official duties.
“I enjoyed myself,” Tinubu said.
On his readiness to resume work, he added: “Ready to kick, ready to work. There’s nothing wrong.”
The President also addressed rumours surrounding his wellbeing, attributing such speculation to the political environment.
“Well, rumour will always be emanating from politics, but the fact remains I’m here—healthy, sound, and ready to go,” he said.
Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday, marking the end of his European working vacation.
His return comes ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, with the President expected to participate in activities marking the occasion in Lagos.
The Presidency had earlier said Tinubu would remain in Lagos for several days for Independence Day engagements and strategic meetings before returning to Abuja.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 and spent time in London and Paris during the trip, while continuing official engagements.
NEWS
‘People Never Believed NDDC Could Do This’ — Ogbuku Highlights Kaa-Ataba Bridge
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has highlighted the completion of the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State as evidence of the Commission’s growing capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects across the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku spoke at the 2026 NDDC Partners for Sustainable Development Conference in Port Harcourt, where he attributed the Commission’s progress to the support and cooperation of its development partners and other stakeholders.
SEE MORE: Otti Commends NDDC, Charges Team Abia To Dominate NDSF
The Kaa-Ataba Bridge links Khana and Andoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State and is expected to improve connectivity between the communities when opened to vehicular traffic.
According to Ogbuku, the project is among developments that many previously considered beyond the capacity of the NDDC.
“These are things that, in the past, people never believed the NDDC could do. Today, we are doing them seamlessly because of the support we are getting,” he said.
The NDDC boss said the progress recorded by the Commission demonstrated the impact of collaboration between the agency and its development partners.
He thanked stakeholders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Minister of Regional Development for their support and encouragement towards the delivery of projects across the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku said the achievements also underscored the importance of collective responsibility, in line with the theme of the 2026 conference, “Synergy for Transformation.”
NEWS
‘Some Lessons for Atiku’ — Onanuga Touts NNPC’s ₦7.2tn Profit, Warns Against Subsidy Return
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has highlighted the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC Ltd) latest financial and operational performance, saying the figures offer “some lessons for Atiku” amid the debate over fuel subsidy.
Onanuga disclosed this in a post on X on Tuesday while reviewing NNPC’s key financial performance for 2025 following the release of the company’s audited results.
According to him, NNPC’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 22 per cent to ₦18 trillion, while earnings per share increased by 32 per cent to ₦35.9.
ALSO READ: ‘We’ll Bring Back Subsidy in Our Own Way’ — Kwankwaso
He said the company’s operating cash flow also grew by 16 per cent to ₦12.8 trillion, while return on equity improved by 200 basis points to 16 per cent.
Onanuga further noted that NNPC declared a ₦5.8 trillion dividend, representing a 35 per cent increase.
Highlighting the company’s operational performance, he said crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.77 million barrels per day, its highest level in five years.
Natural gas output, he added, averaged 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, representing a three-year high.
Oil and condensate production totalled 565.8 million barrels, up five per cent, while NNPC’s equity share increased by 11 per cent to 223.7 million barrels.
Gas production also reached 2,606.2 billion standard cubic feet, up nine per cent, while the company’s equity share rose by 11 per cent to 1,154.9 billion standard cubic feet.
Onanuga then linked the performance to the subsidy debate, arguing against a return to petrol subsidy.
“Atiku’s subsidy programme will certainly kill this company, which could be our own Aramco. Our country has no business taking 100 steps back. Forward ever!” he said.
NNPC Records ₦7.2tn Profit
NNPC Ltd had earlier announced a 33 per cent increase in profit after tax for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.
The company’s profit after tax rose from ₦5.4 trillion in 2024 to ₦7.2 trillion in 2025, while revenue stood at ₦34.5 trillion.
NNPC also reported a 22 per cent increase in EBITDA to ₦18 trillion, a 16 per cent rise in operating cash flow to ₦12.8 trillion and a 32 per cent increase in earnings per share to ₦35.9.
The company declared a ₦5.8 trillion dividend, representing a 35 per cent increase.
On production, NNPC said crude oil and condensate output averaged 1.77 million barrels per day, its highest level in five years, while natural gas production averaged 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day.
The company said the results reflected stronger earnings capacity and operational momentum as it continues to pursue increased production and investment across the Nigerian oil and gas sector.





